All Bluffton Icon News

Heating Assistance Application Deadline: May 31, 2026

MEDIA RELEASE__The Ohio Department of Development and Area Agency on Aging 3 remindS older Ohioans that assistance is available to help with home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of up to eight members and 60% of the State Median Income for a household of nine or more members to pay their heating bills.

Mixed Media Art Class: Snowflake (R)($) will be held Tue., Jan. 13 at 6:00 p.m. with Hannah Warwick of Bluffton Art Co. Come prepared to create your own mixed media snowflake using watercolor/pen/paint. Cost is $15 per person and will be taken at the door (cash only, please). Register in person or online. Open to adults, and teens and children with an accompanying adult.

Evening programs

Family Storytimes (R) Join us the second Tuesday of each month, January - April, at 6:00 p.m. for a fun evening of stories and activities in the children's activity room. Families with children of any age are welcome. We will be meeting Jan. 13, Feb. 10, Mar. 10, and Apr. 14. Register in person or online.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn provided the attached 2025 Zoning Permits Summary for the village council at the December 22 regular meeting. The total dollar value of cost estimates is $12.9M with $6M in residential permits and $6.9M in commercial permits.

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
Gerken Materials, Inc. is listed as submitting the largest project, an asphalt plant with a cost estimate of $6M. Commercial projects with estimates of at least $10K are:

Morning programs

Winter Storytimes (R) January 14 through February 25! Join Miss Beth for a time of stories, games, crafts, and lots of fun while developing early literacy skills! Little Ones Storytime is open to ages birth-2 and Pre-K Storytime is open to ages 3-5. When registering, please specify if your child has any food allergies, as snacks are often provided. Register in person or online

MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Exempted Village School District is currently accepting applications from students interested in attending the school district through open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Students from any school district in Ohio may apply and enroll in Bluffton Schools tuition-free. Students are admitted on a full-time basis only. 

Applications are approved annually on a first-come, first-served basis and approval is subject to grade-level enrollment and educational programs.

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